A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, whose work combines design and research. Tomasz Dróżdż is a specialist in the field of weaving technology and the design of jacquard and printed fabrics. He also deals with fabric maintenance.
Tomasz Dróżdż was born in 1985. In 2009, he graduated from the Institute of Textile Architecture at the Faculty of Materials Technology and Textile Design of the Łódź University of Technology. Shortly after that, he also completed postgraduate studies in ‘Analysis and Documentation of Textile Monuments’ at the same university. From 2015 to 2019, he completed doctoral studies at the Faculty of Textile and Clothing at Władysław Strzemiński’s Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź. He was awarded the title of doctor by creating a set of jacquard fabrics, which showed that by changing the weaves, the number of threads and the type of raw material, many diverse fabrics can be produced.
The professional work of Tomasz Dróżdż can be divided into two categories. The first one is related to the design of jacquard fabric patterns and fabric prints. The work of Tomasz Dróżdż, due to his cooperation with the Zibibo and Hastex companies, for which the creator not only designs but also implements new fabric collections, get into production and sales. Tomasz Dróżdż represents a modern approach to the design of jacquard fabric, breaking all the stereotypes and outdated customs. Among his designs, you can find these in which, due to specially designed weaves, two sides of the fabric differ in colour or texture (one side of is flat, the other – convex); Dróżdż designs weaves that create a three-dimensional texture (3D impression). The designer is not afraid to weave polyester threads into his fabrics, providing more vivid colours and increasing durability, or combining geometric and floral patterns.
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Dróżdż believes that modern design goes beyond pattern drawing. He is convinced that the creative process of crafting jacquard fabric is much more extensive, and offers much more possibilities to the creator. In the introduction to his doctoral dissertation, he wrote:
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My work is an example of a holistic approach to fabric design. Nowadays, the designer is able to complete the entire fabric design process on their own. Using graphic design software, he or she can compose a pattern and adjusts it to the parameters of weaving programs. The choice and design of weaves, setting the sequence of threads, choosing the amount, colour scheme and type of threads, all these parameters are up to the designer. Having mastered the software and technical knowledge, the creator is able to consciously design their own jacquard fabric.
In addition to his project work, Dr Tomasz Dróżdż is also an expert in the field of fabric conservation. The Tkackie Łódzkie project aimed to make an inventory of and popularise weaving techniques from Central Poland; he was responsible for substantive consultation in regards to texts on weaving technologies. In addition, Dróżdż has also participated in international conferences and is an author of various scientific publications about the history of textiles. One such article, written with Maria Cybulska, regarded kontusz sashes, which were analysed by the authors as a source of inspiration in the design process of contemporary fabric.
www.instagram.com/tomek_drozdz_design/
Selected exhibitions:
- 2020 – Zeitgeist. Polish Design Crafting a Future as part of the Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven
- 2019 – 11 Baltic Mini Textile, Gdynia City Museum
- 2017 – Graduate exhibition Wspólna Przestrzeń Między Sztuką A Designem, Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Łódź, Graduation exhibition SYNERGIA 40, Willa Gallery, Łódź; Participation; Arrangement of stand and representation of the Department of Textiles and Clothing at the International Furniture Fair in Ostróda
- 2016 – Ego – exhibition of the 2nd Year Graduates, Nowa Gallery, Łódź; 13th National Exhibition of Polish Tapestry, Central Museum of Texitiles, Łódź; Graduates exhibition All The World’s Futures, Kobro Gallery, Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź
- 2015 – Roots of The European Design Exhibition, individual exhibition FABRICS / JACQUARDS, Galeria Baszta, Zbąszyń